SONA2015: Lost in thunder, Zuma's actual speech

While the EFF consolidated its image as political ruffians, it managed to draw armed security force personnel (neatly dressed in white shirts, maybe to distinguish them from the Ossewa Brandwag's Grey Shirt brigades) into parliament. The DA continued with its new strategy of walk-outs. Meanwhile the State Security Agency (or someone with the necessary toys) tried to block all cellphone signals in and around Parliament, only for Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to send a short, sharp message to the young minister of state security to stop fooling around. And then, of course, a relaxed and healthy-looking President Jacob Zuma presented another speech, clearly prepared by a visionless committee, telling the nation that (almost everything) was on track… to somewhere. By NEL MARAIS.